September 16, 2012 7:26pm EDTSeptember 16, 2012 5:02pm EDTWhen Stephen Gostkowski hooks a potential game-winning field goal attempt, the Patriots are left to deal with their first loss in a home opener in Gillette Stadium history.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.—There was drama, there was intrigue, there were injuries and there was, in the end, some blind luck when it was needed, and for the Arizona Cardinals, that is what mattered most.

Staying undefeated here in Week 2 with a stunning 20-18 upset over the heavily favored New England Patriots—thanks to a hooked field goal from Stephen Gostkowski—Arizona was able to show that it could be a dark horse when it comes the race for the NFC.

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The Patriots, meanwhile, are left to deal with the aftermath of losing their first home opener in Gillette Stadium’s history. Here are three things we learned:

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams should send a thank-you to Gostkowski

The missed field goal by the Patriots got Williams off the hook. Just moments before, it looked like Williams—playing his second game after missing his rookie year with a knee injury—was set to be the hero, having converted a first down with 1:53 to play and the Cards leading by two points on a 13-yard run up the middle.

That meant all the Cardinals had to do was hold the ball and run out the clock. And not commit a turnover. But Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes got into Williams’ midsection on a pitch, and Williams coughed up the fumble, giving the ball to New England on the Cardinals’ 30 yard line with 1:10 to play. Williams was visibly upset on the field and on the sideline, and had to heave a sigh of relief once Gostkowski’s potential game-winner kick sailed wide left.

Beware the Cardinals’ defense

This could have been a more comfortable win for Arizona, thanks to the Cardinals’ defense, but quarterback

Kevin Kolb wasn’t efficient enough. The Cardinals had good touchdown chances on each of their first two drives, the second of which was set up by an interception tipped by tackle Darnell Dockett and caught by cornerback Patrick Peterson.

But Arizona got only two field goals, though, and led 6-0. The Cardinals put pressure on Tom Brady all day, sacking him four times and forcing him into quick throws.

The Patriots got it right in the draft

“Are you kidding me? They played one game. I mean, it’s one game,” is how coach Bill Belichick put it last week when asked about the standout play of his rookie defensive players.

In the opener against Tennessee, defensive end Chandler Jones (chosen 21st overall last season), linebacker Dont’a Hightower (chosen 25th) and safety Tavon Wilson (a second-rounder, 48th overall), combined to register a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and a touchdown.

But veteran Patriots still spent much of the past few days tamping down expectations for their youngsters. But

in the loss to Arizona, the rookies against looked good, especially Jones, who kept up pressure on Kolb and even forced a fumble. The Patriots’ defense has been surprisingly stingy to open the year, and the rookies deserve some credit for that.